Tasmanian Tiger: End of Extinction

The Thylacine was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. A native of Australia and New Guinea, is believed to have become extinct in the 20th century. It is comm...

The Thylacine was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. A native of Australia and New Guinea, is believed to have become extinct in the 20th century. It is commonly known as the Tasmanian Tiger (due to its striped back), the Tasmanian wolf, and colloquially the Tassie Tiger (or Tazzy) or simply the Tiger. It was the last of its kind existing Thylacinus, although several related species have been found in the fossil record dating from the early Miocene.

The Thylacine became extinct on the Australian mainland thousands of years before European colonization of the continent, but survived on the island of Tasmania, along with several endemic species like the Tasmanian Devil.

Intensive hunting encouraged by rewards is often blamed for their extinction, but other factors that contribute to the disease might have been, the introduction of dogs, and human encroachment of their habitat. Despite being officially classified as extinct, sightings are still reported.